March Madness Update...

Well...here it is past the mid  month point already (where does the time go?) and Spring is officially here, though the forecast for tomorrow is calling for more snow. Gotta love Spring in Colorado, LOL!!

Well...today was the beginning of week 3 of my new job. I'm totally flying solo now and so far, so good! Dave (pastor) is out of the office this week (due to spring break)...so no staff meeting this Wed., which will help me catch up on a few things. I'm definitely starting to get the hang of things. I can see now though, that I'm going to have to set a deadline for articles/inserts for the Sunday bulletin for Wed.@ noon. I need to have the bulletin done (edited, proof-read, and prettied up) by the end of my working day (2 pm) on Wed's so that I can begin printing on Thursday mornings (it takes a while to print all those bulletins) and another long while to fold them all. Hey, the kids are on spring break this week, they can come and help me on Thursday afternoon, LOL!!

So...speaking of Spring Break...well, the kids are off this week, but I'm not (except for Friday, I always have Fridays off)...got thru today with no problems. So, unfortunately...we can't go to Aunt Elaine's this break, but maybe in the fall or over xmas break we can head down south for a few days. Next week is Evan's spring break...I know P's planning on coming down...and I hope she's not planning on dumping Evan off here as I won't be home and my kids will all be back in school. It's also "Holy Week" and I will be very busy at work not only during my working hours, but there's a lot of happenings going on that week at the church as we lead up to Easter. I think we will attend the 8 am service so we can get back early and the kids can do their Easter baskets. I'm planning on doing a nice ham dinner (think I'd like to eat at noon and rest the rest of the day). I've almost got everyone's easter clothes together. Taylor got the cutest dress at Kohl's yesterday. I got Chase some Khaki pants and I got Paige's sandals. I need to get Nolan a "purplish" tie, and Chase a purple shirt and we'll all be color coordinated, LOl!

Tomorrow is another f/u appt. with Dr. K...then right after that, on to meeting at Wells Fargo to discuss our refinance and future finance of "Holly Acres"! I am soooooooo praying that if we refi our existing home to "interest only", we'll qualify for the new building loan (Legacy Homes will get the construction loan and we can use our lot as our down pmt...but have to secure permanent financing by closing after the home is built)...If we cannot qualify, we're really considering asking my dad if he would "technically" buy the home...though we would be paying for everything (we would just need to use his name for financing purposes) and then as soon as we sell our current house, we could purchase the home from him (basically from ourselves as he would own it in "name" only)...it wouldn't cost him a dime...just his time to fill out the financing stuff. The plan is to (A) try to avoid having to move twice (if we sold this house quickly, we'd have to move to a rental til our new house was done approx. 5 months) and (B) Vacating this house before listing it as to improve it's chances of selling quickly (with no people, etc...it can have a lock box and be shown whenever). If dad can't do it, we're prepared to ask N's boss if he would. I have been waiting for 5 long years (8 if you count the number of years we've lived here and I've wanted to move)...but 5 since we found the  "Pinon" model (which I love so much) and bought our lot "Holly Acres".

I have a feeling (like the Black Eyed Peas say) that tonight's gonna be a good night (or rather this year's gonna be a good year)...and soon we'll be in our new, more modest, more affordable home in the country (byebye golf course)!!

Speaking of golf...I've been invited to join the "Divots & Drinks" ladies Wed. night golf league/lessons. Two of the Desert Hawk's golf pros put this on and I hear it's really fun (need to ask Michelle if she'd like to do it too). For $20 a week, you get a semi-private golf lesson (covering all the basics...driving, chipping, putting, etc.)...then the ladies break up into smaller groups and play 3 or 4 holes...and then back to the club house for drinks (included in the $20 price). I'm definitely going to do it!!! Then I'll have to take my Pops out and play golf with him and my brother Kenny!!

Let's see...I've covered kids, job, house, golf...is there anything else??? LOL That's my mid month update...will check back later hopefully with good news as to when we can "break ground" on the new crib!! LOL

I'm officially a "Working Mom"!!

I started my new job today!! I absolutely LOVE it! My days/hours are awesome...the people I work with are awesome...and the church didn't burst into flames when I walked in...so I guess I must not be ALL bad, LOL!! Even the pastor's wife brought me flowers (how darn sweet is that??)! I love being able to use my office/computer skills again and  working in a church also allows me to use my "nursing" skills as well in that so much of nursing is about care, concern and compassion...and I love the fact that along with the "nuts and bolts" of the job, I get to use my "other" skills as well! I am so grateful and humbled to have been given this opportunity! When I was first laid off from KRSC, I was really devestated...not only did I fear losing so many great friendships that had formed, but I honestly felt that I had "wasted" time in developing all the proposal and billing systems, etc...and that I should have spent that time doing something else with my life. Well...this is where "hindsight" becomes very evident. Not only will all the skills I learned at that job serve me well in my current job...but my patience (and God's Grace) has really paid off as well (and the great friendships that had formed thru working at KRSC are alive and thriving to this day...being laid off didn't change a thing). I had thought that getting hired with the school district would be the perfect job so I began applying for various positions last August, with not so much as an interview (think you gotta know "someone" on the inside)...I was getting so frustratated with rejection letters when this job came along. My friend Michelle encouraged me to apply for it...so I did. I never thought in a million years I'd get the job...but God works in mysterious ways!

Another example of how how God's Grace has touched my life...

Updates!

Well...got my steri-strips of today (okay, it's technically Saturday...but I haven't really gone to sleep  yet, so it's still Friday to me, LOL). The incisions look good and I go back next Tues. afternoon for another f/u! I was told that I can NOT wear a bra. Hmmmm...great if my new job was in a bar, but it's in a CHURCH!!! LOL I'm liking it though...having perky boobs that don't NEED a bra...but I do have these perpetually erect nipples that I need to deal with, LOL. I bought some camisoles to wear under my shirts and then I'll wear a jacket/sweater/button up shirt over all that...and that ought to do the trick! I'm still having a little drainage on the left side and I was given some silver nitrate cream to put on the vertical incision.

The kids were all out with friends tonight...so Nolan and I went to the Do Drop Inn for dinner (take out). We had a couple of margaritas (half price) while we were waiting. Ed and Nancy were there and invited us to sit at their table (it was jam packed in there) with them while we waited. Bless Ed's heart...he tells me the "what do Alexander the Great and Kermit the Frog have in common" joke every time we see him (what a nut, lol )...btw, the answer is that they have the same middle name, LOL! We came home to eat and watch a movie (Vice Versa) and I could not stay awake. I dozed off at some point and was then awoken by a text msg from Troy. He and Ty were out at DJ's tonight and wanted Nolan and I to join them...ahhhh that would have been fun, but definitely not up to going "out" yet! So...now I've been up since 11:30 watching reruns of "Real Housewives of OC" and "Real Housewives of New York City"...

Well...my new job as office administrator for our Methodist church starts Monday. I am sooooo excited to not only put all my office/clerk skills to work, but to be in an environment such as the church to help people and show my compassionate/nurturing side will really make the nuts and bolts of the job more meaningful! I had another meeting with the church board yesterday that went very well! I'm really looking forward to getting to know them all and working with them. I was told that they had a LOT of applicants for this position and I was selected because I am a "people" person (I knew all those years at the Tumble Weed would eventually pay off, LOL)...Pastor Dave also shared some very sweet comments he received about me from my references. Wow...I'm truly humbled and blown away at the comments...very sweet! Got to go to Kohl's today and get some new "work" clothes. I found a few pairs of slacks (dressy black pants, Khakis and some brownish dress pants)...and a couple pencil skirts...a new white denim jacket and a couple shirts!! I love dressing up and of course I am going to be the first person anyone comes into contact with when they come into the church...so I want to look as professional as possible (while still looking stylish and cute of course, LOL)! Oh and on Sunday the 14th...they are going to formally introduce me to the congregation, YIKES...believe it or not...I do get a little "shy" in front of large crowds, LOL...hopefully, I won't have to speak! LOL

On a side note...I am still in the midst of my Lent commitment (no beer). It's been 3 weeks since I had a beer...and actually, it hasn't been as hard as I thought it would. Of course, we haven't been going "out" either...and it's such a social thing...it might be harder when we're out, but so far so good! I'm going to make it to Easter damn it!! Oops...I need to cut my cussing habit before Monday, LOL!!

Had a lunch date today with Tim. We went to Chili's (my choice cause it's right across the street from Kohl's) LOL! We had a nice visit and it was good to catch up (more than quick phone calls/texts). I am so blessed to have such a great friend in Tim...he's true blue and I know he would always be there for me in a heartbeat! We had reg. iced tea today, LOL...last time we went to lunch, we had Long Island Iced Teas...and lunch turned into dinner, LOL!! OMG...Tim has got to be one of the funnest drinking buddies ever!

Well...it's quickly approaching 2 am...so I really need to get some shut eye!! Ni-night! XOXO

8 days Post-Op...

Had another appt. with Dr. K last Tuesday. It was a bit of a teary appt for me. After a difficult weekend, sick kids, and many other life problems...I was just near my breaking point with everything. Dr. K was wonderful...he spent a great deal of time with me. He assured me that everything is healing beautifully and that my girls are going to be gorgeous! At this stage (of healing), it's hard to imagine! With miles of incisions, stitches, and steri-strips and looking like someone took to me with a baseball bat...I'm having trouble imagining the final outcome. But...the appt. went well...he seemed to ease my fears and anxiety! I also discovered that I am allergic to Percocet...and have been given Vicodin instead. I am not in much pain at all now (just taking Tylenol during the day)...but the Vicodin is definitely helping me to sleep...since I'm still in the recliner...uggggghhhh, my lower back, my hips and my neck hurt like heck! And now...my incisions are starting to itch (hopefully a good sign). I go back for another f/u appt tomorrow (Friday)...hoping they're going to change the steri-strips!!

I don't believe it!!!

I'm about to become a working mom (again)!! I had my interview last Tues...and the pastor called me today and offered me the position! OMG...I can't believe it!! This is an awesome office administrator job at our local Methodist church. The days/hours are fantastic...it's Monday thru Thursday 9 to 2 and Fridays OFF!! YAY...I'm so tired of living paycheck to paycheck...this is really going to help out a lot (it pays well too)! I can't believe the crazy things that have led me down this path...it's devine intervention at it's finest! I have to meet with the church board tomorrow (the final acceptance) and then I imagine that they will want me to begin on Monday!!

YAY!!! It's not easy for an old lady like me to get back out into the work world...but I feel really proud that I got this job all on my own! I see now what a blessing it was that I didn't get hired on at the school district as the "perfect" job has been waiting for me all along!!

It's 3 days post-op!!

And...I finally got a shower (and boy did it feel good, LOL)!! I've gotten rid of all traces of tape (except for the steri-strips) and so the itching has improved. I've been able to go 6 hrs between pain pills and the bruising is starting to subside. I go back on Tues. to see Dr. K and I think they're going to remove the steri-strips then as well. I still have a lot of swelling and such...but I can't wait to see the end result in about 4 to 6 wks!!

The "girls" have officially moved uptown...

Yesterday was my mastopexy surgery. It took about 4 hours! I haven't seen them yet as I'm not suppose to take the dressings off yet. I've got another appt. later this morning and hopefully they will change the bandages cause whatever's in there, itches something terrible. So far, the pain has been quite managable...I would describe it more as being "uncomfortable" than super painful...plus, I've got a steady supply of Percocet...so that helps a little, LOL !! I did take some "before" pics and as soon as the girls are healed up, I'll be taking some "after" pics as well!!

I'm just so happy that this is done now and I can move on/concentrate on other things!!